17 Psychiatric Assistant Interview Questions and Answers

Psychiatric assistants work under the direction of psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals to provide care to patients with mental illness. As a psychiatric assistant, you may work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, or residential treatment facility. Your duties may include administering medication, conducting therapy sessions, and providing support to patients and their families.

To become a psychiatric assistant, you must have at least a high school diploma and complete a psychiatric assistant training program. Once you’re certified, you can start looking for a job. The interview process for a psychiatric assistant position may include a written exam, a skills test, and an interview. During the interview, you will be asked a variety of questions about your experience, education, and personal qualities.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of sample psychiatric assistant interview questions and answers.

Are you comfortable working with people who have mental health issues?

This question can help interviewers determine if you have the right personality for this role. They want to know that you are compassionate and empathetic, but also able to keep your emotions in check when working with patients who may be experiencing challenging situations. Your answer should show that you understand what it means to work in a psychiatric setting and how you will handle these types of situations.

Example: “I am very comfortable working with people who have mental health issues. I think it’s important to treat everyone with respect and kindness, regardless of their situation. In my last position, I worked with many different kinds of patients, including those who were depressed, anxious or even suicidal. I always made sure to listen carefully to them and make them feel safe and understood.”

What are your greatest strengths as a psychiatric assistant?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you view yourself. They want to know what skills you have that will be beneficial in the role, so it’s important to highlight any unique or transferable skills you have. When answering this question, think of a few specific examples of your strengths as they relate to the job.

Example: “I would say my greatest strength is my ability to remain calm under pressure. I’ve worked with many patients who are experiencing anxiety, and I find that being patient and understanding helps them feel more comfortable. Another strength I have is my attention to detail. I am very thorough when performing tasks, which has helped me avoid making mistakes at work.”

How would you handle a situation where a patient becomes violent or disruptive?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your ability to handle challenging situations. In your answer, try to demonstrate that you can remain calm and focused in a crisis situation. You might also want to mention any specific training or experience you have with managing disruptive patients.

Example: “I’ve worked with many different types of patients over the years, so I’m used to handling all kinds of situations. If a patient becomes violent or disruptive, I would first try to deescalate the situation by speaking calmly and reassuringly. If they don’t respond to my words, I would call for help from other staff members. We could then work together to safely restrain the patient until they calm down.”

What is your experience with administering psychiatric exams?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn about your experience with administering exams for patients. They want to know if you have any prior experience and how well you performed in that role. Use your answer to explain what types of exams you’ve administered, the type of training you received and the results you achieved while working as a psychiatric assistant.

Example: “In my last position, I helped administer several different types of psychiatric exams. We used the MMPI-2 test to evaluate patients’ mental health and determine their personality traits. We also used the Rorschach Inkblot Test to assess our patients’ thought processes and emotional states. These tests help us understand our patients better so we can provide them with more effective treatment.”

Provide an example of a time when you provided supportive counseling to a patient.

This question can help the interviewer determine how you interact with patients and whether you have experience providing counseling. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you helped a patient overcome an obstacle or achieve a goal.

Example: “In my last position as a psychiatric assistant, I worked with a patient who was struggling with anxiety. She would often feel overwhelmed by her daily life and would sometimes miss appointments because of this. One day, she told me that she felt like she couldn’t go on anymore. I asked her what she thought might make her feel better, and she said that she wished she could just stay home all the time.

I explained to her that while staying at home may seem like a good idea right now, eventually she would want to leave again. We talked about ways she could cope with her anxiety and agreed on a plan for her to practice leaving the house more often until she felt ready to return to work.”

If a patient refuses to take their psychiatric medication, how would you handle this?

This question can help interviewers understand how you would handle a challenging situation. In your answer, try to show that you have the skills and experience to work with patients who are uncooperative or difficult.

Example: “I’ve worked with many patients who refuse to take their medication. I usually start by asking them why they don’t want to take it. Sometimes, there’s a valid reason for this, such as side effects or difficulty swallowing pills. If there isn’t a good reason, I explain to them that taking their medication is important for their treatment. I also let them know that if they continue to refuse, we may need to adjust their treatment plan.”

What would you do if you noticed a coworker was exhibiting signs of mental illness?

This question can help interviewers assess your ability to work with others and how you might handle a challenging situation. In your answer, try to show that you are willing to speak up for the benefit of your coworker and the team as a whole.

Example: “If I noticed a coworker was exhibiting signs of mental illness, I would first approach them privately to see if they were aware of their symptoms. If they weren’t, I would encourage them to seek medical attention. If they were aware but didn’t want to go to the doctor, I would explain that it’s in their best interest to do so and offer to accompany them to their appointment.”

How well do you handle stress?

Working as a psychiatric assistant can be stressful at times. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the ability to handle stress and remain calm when working with patients who may be experiencing emotional distress. In your answer, explain how you manage stress in your life. Share some of the strategies that work for you and give examples of past experiences where you’ve used these skills.

Example: “I find that I am able to stay calm under pressure. When working with patients, I try my best to listen to them and provide support. If they are upset or anxious, I will hold their hand or put an arm around them to show them that I care. This helps me to remain calm while also providing comfort to the patient.”

Do you have any questions for us about the position?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have done your research and are interested in the position. It’s also a chance for you to learn more about what it would be like to work at this facility. When preparing for an interview, make sure to read through the job description so you can come up with questions related to the role.

Example: “I was really impressed by how much training psychiatric assistants receive here. I’ve worked as a psychiatric assistant before, but my previous employer didn’t offer any formal training programs. I’m wondering if there are any opportunities for continuing education or professional development within the department.”

When performing psychiatric exams, do you prefer to work alone or with a colleague?

This question can help an interviewer determine how you might fit into a team of psychiatric assistants. When answering, it can be helpful to mention the benefits of working with others and also your ability to work independently if necessary.

Example: “I have worked both alone and in teams during my time as a psychiatric assistant. I find that when working alone, I am able to focus more on the patient’s needs and perform all tasks efficiently. However, I enjoy collaborating with other professionals and learning from them. In my last position, I worked alongside two psychiatrists who were very knowledgeable about their field. I learned so much from them and was able to apply what they taught me to my own work.”

We want to improve our patient intake process. Can you provide an example from your previous job where you improved patient intake procedures?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your problem-solving skills and how you can apply them to their organization. When answering, it can be helpful to provide an example that shows the steps you took to improve patient intake procedures and the positive results of those changes.

Example: “At my previous job, we had a lot of patients who would arrive late for their appointments. This caused us to have to reschedule many of these patients’ appointments, which was time-consuming for our staff. I decided to create a new system where if a patient arrived 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment, they could go ahead and see the doctor without having to reschedule. We also implemented a policy where if a patient arrived 10 minutes after their scheduled appointment, they would not be able to see the doctor unless they rescheduled. These two policies helped reduce the number of rescheduled appointments by 50%.”

Describe your experience with psychiatric software programs.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your experience with psychiatric software programs. This can help them determine if you have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform your job duties. When answering, consider mentioning which specific software programs you’ve used in the past and what your level of expertise is for each one.

Example: “I’ve worked with several different types of psychiatric software programs during my previous jobs. I’m most comfortable using EHRs, or electronic health records, as they allow me to enter patient information quickly and easily. I also use PMRs, or patient medical records, which are helpful when entering a lot of detailed information about patients. I find that these two systems work well together.”

What makes you an ideal candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their team. Before your interview, make a list of all the skills and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for this position. Focus on highlighting your relevant work experience, education or any other credentials that are important for this role.

Example: “I am passionate about helping others, which is why I chose to pursue a career in mental health care. Throughout my studies, I learned many techniques for supporting patients with various conditions. My communication skills are also strong, as I have worked with several psychiatrists who prefer to explain things themselves rather than delegate everything to their assistants. These skills make me an excellent fit for this position.”

Which psychiatric treatments have you performed in the past?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of experience in a psychiatric setting. It’s important to highlight any treatments you’ve performed that are relevant to the position and include specific details about how they helped patients.

Example: “In my previous role, I assisted with administering medications, monitoring patient vitals and performing behavioral assessments. These tasks helped me learn more about each patient’s unique needs and provided valuable insight into their progress. For example, one patient was resistant to taking her medication at first, but after we had a conversation about it, she agreed to take them regularly. After two weeks, she reported feeling calmer and happier.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of psychiatric care?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your values and how they align with the role. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about what you enjoy most about working in psychiatric care.

Example: “I believe that the most important aspect of psychiatric care is building trust with patients. I find that when patients feel comfortable talking to me, they are more likely to share their thoughts and feelings. This helps me get a better understanding of their situation and provides valuable information to my supervisor. It also allows me to provide support and encouragement to patients as they work through challenging situations.”

How often do you perform psychiatric exams on patients?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn about your experience with psychiatric exams. They want to know if you have performed them before and how often. In your answer, share the types of exams you perform and how often you do so. If you are not familiar with performing psychiatric exams, explain that you would be willing to learn.

Example: “In my current role as a psychiatric assistant, I perform psychiatric exams on patients once every two weeks. I am comfortable performing all types of psychiatric exams, including physical exams, mental status exams and diagnostic interviews.”

There is a conflict between a patient and a coworker. How would you handle this?

This question can help an interviewer assess your conflict resolution skills. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation and how you would handle it.

Example: “In my experience as a psychiatric assistant, I have seen many conflicts between patients and their coworkers. In one instance, a patient was upset with the nurse because they were not receiving their medication on time. The patient began yelling at the nurse in front of other patients, which made them feel uncomfortable. I spoke with the patient privately about their concerns and explained that there are multiple people who administer medications. We discussed ways we could improve communication so the patient knew when their medication would be administered.”